'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' premiering on ABC in Fall 2013

ABC has picked up 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' to premier in Fall 2013 and a promo trailer will debut on Sunday during the season finale of 'Once Upon A Time'.

The series is being developed by Joss Whedon (who also directed The Avengers) in collaboration with Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen.

It has also been conformed that Clark Gregg will return as Agent Phil Coulson despite being killed by Loki in The Avengers. Since its set after the events of The Avengers, the series will explain how Agent Coulson returned from the dead.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D will follow the adventures of Agent Coulson and his team of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents as they handle strange cases. The team will be made up of Agent Melinda May (an ace pilot and weapons expert), Agent Grant Ward (the tough guy), Agent Leo Fitz (weapons technology specialist), Agent Jemma Simmons (life sciences specialist), and Skye (hacker and computer expert).

J. August Richards will also be joining the cast but his character hasn't been revealed. This has lead to speculation that he will be playing a major chracter from the Marvel Universe.

Before the success of The Avengers, Joss Whedon had become a sci-fi icon with the shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, and Dollhouse. He is working on a sequel to The Avengers that is expected to be released in May 2015.